Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-03-29
UNCLE TOMMY sTEaETT
Tho Husband OF Five wives and p,.
ther of Twenty-Five ChiIdren.

Inv huspHDd OF Five Wives and ts,
ther OF twenty-five Children.
Ono OF the most familiar characters
ABOUT Hamilton, and one whom eyerv.
poay knows, is Uncle Tommy stcrett
writes Hamilton, o., correspondent
Of 1he Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
The 9TH Of this month he celebrated
his seventy-sevcnth birthday auniver-
sary. and. from appearances, will live
TO celebrate many more. He was
born near Venice, on the Miami. His
iirst work was for Isaac Anderson.
with whom he lived as a farm-hand
receiving $3 month for the first year.
Mr.. Sterett has outlived four wives.
and now lives in happiness with his
nth. He first married Mary Wells. of
Kentucky, the couple starting in life
together in log cabin twelve feet
square with dirt floor and chimney
made OF mud and sticks. The wife
weaved and purchased flour, while the
husband mauled rails in exchange fer
meat. BY his first wife Mr.. Sterett
was the father of eighteen children.
Mr.. Sterett's second wife was Isabel
Brosier, by whom he had one child.
The old gentleman said he could not
remember the dates when he married
his different wives as his memory was
poor, and he couldn't recollect these
/ little things After living four OF
r.
five years Isabel died, and Mrs. Martha
Nichols took her place This was along
about 1852, and five children resulted
from this union.
Mrs Robert Pierce became the fourth
Mrs. Thomas Sterett, and she died
about twelve years ago in Indiana
without leaving any children. Uncle
Tommy's present wife was the widow
of William Smith. One child-John
ME, aged lois the last addition tt
the Stcrett family, and he completes
the even quarter of hundred children
who claim the old man as their father
These children have grown up, mar
ried, and emigrated. and many of then
are living to-day in parts unknown t.
their aged parent.
MIR. Sterett lived in Hamilton in 1916
when. as he says, it was common
sight to see Indians, bears, panthers
; deer. wild turkeys, foxes. and wolve
, in the roads. and proving about tn
town. He has always been democrat
always expects to be. and first vote
for Andrew Jackson for president
: When the war broke out five of hi
own sons and four step-sons went t
the front, and served until they becam
veterans. The old man wanted to &C
but the boys thought there were enoug
out of one family, and that he had be
ter stay home and take care of tn
children, while they did the fighting
!, The farthest he was ever away fror
:, home was a trip to Louisville to Sc
y his boys during the rebellion. A
though bitter democrat, and frol
= Butler county, too. the old man W;
;. loyal, and opposed to the conduct (
- the south. Had he had more sons
!, for duty they, too, should have gon
- Mr.. Sterett asserted. as he recall'
those stirring days.
- Uncle Tommy has been laboriI
" man all his life, and was boss of t
>, First ward street gang for nine year
To-day he is able to walk to his daug
. ter's house, fourteen miles away, in lie
than four hours, and none can work har
Ell than he He has used the weed sin
%" his fourteenth year, and worked +
half century, seeing nothing but ha
knocks and much trouble, but is
=, present strong and hearty.